Rugby opponent brings Paignton heart attack player back from dead

THE wife of a South Devon rugby player who was brought back from the dead after suffering a massive heart attack on the pitch has publicly thanked the opponent who saved his life.

Adam Wyatt, who lives near Bovey Tracey and plays for Paignton, collapsed during a game against Withycombe.

Mr Wyatt, 50, was lucky that the Withycombe team included medical student Luke McLennan, who administered CPR until paramedics arrived at the Queens Park ground in Paignton.

Camilla Wyatt, who has been married to Adam for 24 years, said her husband owed his life to the prompt action of Mr McLennan, the paramedics and health service staff in the Paignton team who helped as the drama unfolded.

"I hope to speak to Mr McLennan soon to thank him properly for what he did," said the mother of two sons, Richard and Kevin.

"My husband was moved from intensive care to a ward on Tuesday — which is not what any of us expected on Sunday afternoon when he was put in the ambulance.

"I was told Adam had been dead for 20 minutes before he was brought back. He has been very lucky.

"I work in the health service and you become used to doctors and nurses saving people's lives.

"When it happens to a member of your own family, you realise how important these life savers are."

Mr McLennan, who lives in Exeter, is in his fifth year as a medical student at the Peninsula Medical School in the city.

Mr McLennan hopes to take up a junior doctor's post later this year — and knows exactly what he wants to do.

"I am hoping to pursue a career in emergency medicine, working in A&E, so this was quite a tester for me to see if I could stay calm in these situations," he said.